The M2M, IoT & Wearable Technology Ecosystem:2015 - 2020

As consumer voice and data services revenues reach their saturation point, wireless carriers are keen to capitalize on other avenues to drive revenue growth. One such opportunity is providing network connectivity for M2M (Machine to Machine) devices like smart meters, connected cars, healthcare monitors and digital signage. Despite its low ARPU, M2M technology has helped carriers establish steady revenue streams across several verticals including utilities, healthcare, automotive, transportation, logistics, public safety, retail, and even consumer electronics.

Another key opportunity is the monetization of wearable technology. Mobile device OEMs are aggressively investing in wearable devices, in order to offset declining margins in their traditional smartphone and tablet markets. As a result, the market has been flooded with a variety of smart bands, smart watches and other wearable devices capable of collecting, sending and processing data over mobile applications.

Eyeing opportunities to route huge volumes of traffic from these wearable devices, many wireless carriers are now seeking to fit wearable technology with their M2M offerings, targeting both consumer and vertical markets. SNS Research expects that M2M and wearable devices can help carriers pocket as much as $116 Billion in network connectivity revenue by the end of 2020, following a CAGR of over 40% between 2015 and 2020.